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This Solar Calculator will compute the size and estimated cost to install a solar energy system for your home or building. The solar calculator's financial analysis is based on energy bill savings you can expect and the net solar system cost, after tax credits and other incentives are applied. The solar calculator results are based on many assumptions and the limited data you will enter. An actual site assessment by a trained professional contractor will be needed to determine the actual costs and benefits of installing a solar energy system.

Find the Best States & Utilities for Solar & Wind Energy System Investments.

State:

Technology:

Select the State and Technology (PV, Solar Water, or Wind) you would like to review. This report rank orders the best investments based upon available incentives, utility rates, and solar (or wind) resources at that location. This covers residential installations of solar electric (PV), solar water heating and wind turbine energy systems.

Best Investment Returns for Residential Solar &amp Wind in the USA: Top 30 *

Solar Electric (PV)

Solar Water Heating

Wind Turbines

ME - Matinicus Plantation Elec Co

RI - Block Island Power Co

HI - Kauai Island Utility Coop

NY - Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc

NY - Fishers Island Utility Co Inc

NY - Long Island Power Authority

NY - Orange & Rockland Utils Inc

CA - Moreno Valley City of

MA - Town of Hudson

ME - Swans Island Electric Coop Inc

NC - Town of Hobgood

CA - City of Riverside

CA - Truckee Donner P U D

DE - Newark City of

NJ - Seaside Heights City of

CA - City of Glendale

CA - City of Lodi

DE - City of Milford

ME - Fox Islands Electric Coop Inc

RI - Narragansett Electric Co

NY - Central Hudson Gas & Elec Corp

NY - Niagara Mohawk Power Corp

CA - Merced Irrigation District

DC - Potomac Electric Power Co

CA - City of Gridley

CT - United Illuminating Co

NM - Southwestern Electric Coop Inc

CA - City of Lompoc

CA - PLUMAS-SIERRA RURAL ELEC COOP

CA - City of Pasadena

MD - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co

DC - Potomac Electric Power Co

MD - A & N Electric Coop

MD - Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc

MD - Choptank Electric Coop Inc

MD - Delmarva Power & Light Company

MD - City of Hagerstown

MD - Town of Williamsport

MD - Berlin Town of

MD - Thurmont Municipal Light Co

MD - Easton Utilities Comm

NV - NV Energy

MD - Potomac Edison Co

NY - Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc

NY - New York State Elec & Gas Corp

HI - Hawaiian Electric Co Inc

HI - Maui Electric Co Ltd

NY - Orange & Rockland Utils Inc

HI - Kauai Island Utility Coop

GA - Coweta-Fayette El Member Corp

AZ - Sulphur Springs Valley E C Inc

HI - Hawaii Electric Light Co Inc

NY - Central Hudson Gas & Elec Corp

NY - National Grid (formerly Keyspan)

NY - Niagara Mohawk Power Corp

LA - City of New Roads

LA - City of Rayne

LA - Cleco Power LLC

LA - Entergy Gulf States Louisiana LLC

LA - Southwest Louisiana E M C

ME - Matinicus Plantation Elec Co

HI - Kauai Island Utility Coop

RI - Block Island Power Co

MD - Berlin Town of

MD - A & N Electric Coop

NJ - Seaside Heights City of

CT - City of Norwich

CT - Jewett City City of

NY - Consolidated Edison Co-NY Inc

MD - Baltimore Gas & Electric Co

MD - Delmarva Power & Light Company

NY - Fishers Island Utility Co Inc

NY - Long Island Power Authority

MD - Choptank Electric Coop Inc

MD - Southern Maryland Elec Coop Inc

CT - Bozrah Light & Power Company

ME - Fox Islands Electric Coop Inc

CT - Groton Dept of Utilities

MD - Easton Utilities Comm

NJ - Borough of Lavallette

NC - Cape Hatteras Elec Member Corp

NC - Hertford City of

NC - Harkers Island El Member Corp

NJ - Atlantic City Electric Co

NC - City of Elizabeth City

NC - Town of Edenton

CT - United Illuminating Co

NJ - Borough of Pemberton

MI - Ontonagon County R E A

MA - Nantucket Electric Co

* - NOTE: Alaska has been excluded from the Top listing (above) because of the small market size relative to the continential USA and Hawaii. However, due to generally high electricity and fuel prices in Alaska the financial returns can be very good.

Financial Terms used in Solar & Wind Investment Analysis

Profit Index (PI) is a measure of investment efficiency. If PI is 1, every dollar invested returns a dollar. If greater than 1, the investment returns more than a dollar for each dollar invested. If less than 1, the investment may not return the full value of the investment over the assumed system life.

Payback - A Measure of Security: The most commonly used measure of the security of a proposed investment is its payback, defined as the length of time until one gets one`s money back. Cashflow Payback is the moment when the cumulative cash in-flows exceed the total of all cash out-flows.

Internal Rate of Return (IRR): is another common measure of investment efficiency. It is defined as the interest rate that causes the project�s net present value (NPV) to equal zero, and is equivalent to the yield to maturity of a bond. The internal rate of return (IRR) on an investment or potential investment is the annualized effective compounded rate of return that can be earned on the invested capital.

Net Present Value (NPV) is an indicator of how much value an investment or project adds to the customer. If NPV is positive then the investment would add value. If NPV is zero or negative then other "qualitative" factors may add adequate value to justify the project (for example, lengthening a swimming pool season). Net Present Value (NPV) is one way to account for the time value of money. NPV calculates the current value of each future cash flow. For example, $1.00 received two years from now is equivalent to something less today, if it can be invested now at some interest rate. This allows us to "discount" the cash flows (whether positive or negative) that the proposed investment is expected to generate at various times in the future back to their equivalent value today (that is, their "present value"). If one then subtracts the cost of the proposed investment from the sum of the present values of the ongoing cash inflows, one obtains the net present value (NPV) of the investment.

How you Might Use This Ranking Report for Marketing Solar & Wind Energy Systems

When determining where to focus your sales & marketing efforts for solar, pv or wind energy systems these reports will be useful. The states and utilities offering a combination of strong incentives and high utility rates will generally provide the best solar and wind energy investments for home or building owners. Of course it also helps to have strong renewable resources (solar and/or wind). This report takes these factors into consideration to help you define which customer profiles may be your best target markets for selling solar and wind energy systems. To best pin point your marketing and sales efforts, consider this in combination with other demographic data, such as median household incomes (by county, city, locality or region) and the percentage of home owners (versus renters).

The US Census Bureau has data that you will find helpful: US Census Data